Cell-finishing machine



Nov. 11, 1930. A. SCHMIDT 1,780,982

CELL FINISHING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l 5 HM I O 20 INVENTOR @Zfred S65 @6217- MQZL 7 ATTORNEY NOV. 11,!1930. $cHM|DT 1,780,982

CELL FINISHING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EY Nov. 11, 1930. m-r 1,780,982

CELL FINISHING MACHINE Filed vMarch 17 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q 7 5d 27 E m 5 lll 35 v 40 35 36 '42 VENTO ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES ALFRED SCHMIDT, OF WEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY CELL-FINISHING MACHINE Application filed March 17, 1928. Serial No. 262,479.

This invention is an improvement in dry battery cell finishing machines, and particularly in machines for capping the carbons and inserting the washers in such cells.

In the usual'form of dry cell, a zinc cup is provided, in which is inserted the depolarizing material. A carbon rod electrode is arranged at the axis of the cell, within this I material, and the said rod projects slightly above the cup.

It is usual to cap the carbon electrode with a metallic cap, and to insert a washer of paper or the like, into the cell, the carbon electrode extending through the opening in the washer. The washer is inserted toa depth suflicient to provide for a seal, usually of sealing wax, above the washer.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the rovision of a machine of the character speci ed, by means of which the carbon rods may be capped, and the washers inserted in successive cells, moving by gravity on runways past the mechanisms for capping and washer inserting.

Another object is the provision in such a machine of means to support the individual cells at the respective mechanisms, and to make counterpressure to hold the cellsfirmly in place during the capping and the washer inserting.

Another object is the provision of new and improved means for positioning the caps in relation to the cells, and for centering the rods with respect to the caps, prior to the placing of the cap on the rod. 7 Another object is the provision of means for feeding washers in succession into the proper relation with respect to the cells, and

for centering the cells and washers prior to the insertion of the washers in the cell.

"With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that-various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be-rresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. a

In the drawings forming a part hereof V Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved machine withparts in section. i

Fig. 2 is a front view of the washer applying section.

Figs. 3 and 1: are sections on the lines 33 and 4-4 respectively, of Fig. 1. I

In the presentembodiment of the invention, the mechanism is supported on a supporting structure composed of a plurality of bases, indicated at 1 and 2 respectively connected by elements to be described, although it is apparent that a single base might be provided,'if desired. An operating shaft 3 is j ournaled in bearings 4: on the bases, and the shaft is provided between the bases with a gear wheel 5, by means of which it. may be connected'with a suitable source of power.

At the opposite end from the shaft 3, each base is provided with a pair of opposed cheek plates 5'5 and 66, respectively. In each cheek plate 5 and 6, a shaft is journaled, the

shafts being indicated at 7 and 8 respectively, 7

and a similar turret 9 and 10 is mounted on each shaft, between the cheek plates. Each turret has seats 11 for the battery cells indicated at 12', each seat being adapted to receive one cell, and the cells move to andfrom the turrets on runs 13.

Each of the runs as shown, includes apair of rails l4, upon which the cells roll, and limiting side walls 15, for limiting endwise movement of the cells, and the runs are inclined as shown, being arranged in sections between and on the outer sides of the turrets, so that the cells will move by gravity from the inlet end of the run to the point of discharge.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the ends of the limiting plates 15 are extended in arched formation along the sides of the turret, to near the top thereof, the extensions being indicated atl6, so that the cells in the turrets are guarded at their ends except when immediately above the axis of the turret.

When supported by the first turret, the caps indicated at 17 are applied. Thecaps are applied from a feeding mechanism which maybe of the character shown and described in my copending application Serial No.

165,746, filed February 3,1927. This mechavnism includes a chute 18;, which has an internal cross-section substantially equal to the d ametricalcross sect on of a cap.

The lower end of the chute extends into a recess 19 in the front end of a locater 20, which'is mounted to slidein the cheek plate 1 toward'and from the turret, and in'coaxial valineme'nt with that seat of the turret which is directlyabove the aXis'of rotation. The 'locater 20 is axially counterbored, and. a plunger is mounted to move in the counterbore. .Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the plunger 21 has a reduced end 22 adjacent theturret, and that the connterbore is simi+ larly reduced. This reduced portion ofthe "counterbo're is of a size, to receive-a single cap as shown, and the reduced portion of the plunger is adapted 'to'discharge a cap from "the sleeve and into positionon the end of the carbon 28 of the cell 12, which is in position =-tjo "receive said cap, havi'ng been centered by the locater. The adjacent end of the counter- "hore is flaring or funnel shaped, as shown at 24,130 center the carbon, and to facilitate the v 'exitiof the cell from the counterbore.

' 1 'An abutment plate 25 is arranged a position to register with the cell, when it is ;above.the axis of rotation of the turret, and

this plate is carried by a stem 26, held inj-t-he V V cheek plate 5 As'shown in Figs. 1 and3,

the turret hub has a marginal "flange 27'at the end adjacent the cheek plate "5 and the abutment plate 25 depends'into the annular space between this. flange andthe adjacent end of the hub. A ines eX-tendsilaterally froin the cheek plate toward the 'fiange, and .the fiange acts as an abutment to limit the *forwardmovement offthe cheek plate under the push of the cell. j: I

Counter pressure mechanism is. provided forholding that cell which is above the axis of the *turret'in the seat. This mechanism,

as shown, includes a stirrup 29,tl ie-arms of V which are pivoted to the sides of the runway at '30.. A-curved'arm 31 extends-from the H body of the stirrup over the turret, and normallyrests upon that cell which isabove the a'xis'of the turret. The arm is yieldiiigly 7 pressed toward the t urretjbynieans of a coil. 7 spring 32- x A stop arm 33 is connected with one'oflthearms of the stirrup, andextends downwardly'toward the base, beingadapted "to engage the baseto limit the movement of the arm" 31 toward the turret axis.- .The

springea is arranged between this" arm and the base, and normally acts to-draw the arm downward, the downward movement, however, being limited by thee lement 33 a r WhenIby meansfof the turret a :cell is V brought intothe position/cf Fig. 3, the sleeve or locater' 20 is moved toward the cell, and 5 the end of the carbon enters the flaring end of the c'ounterbore'. fIn-synchronisin therewith, the plunger 21" is moved forwardly,

'pushing the cap at the. lower end of the chute forwardly and onto the end of the carbon which at this time is'in the flaring part I 24of the'counterbore. The superincumbent caps rest upon the reduced portion of the is supported on the cheek plate 6, and the washers are fed insuccessionifrom the bottom of the magazine by a pusher 38 operated in a mannerto be presently described,-;and

movable through the bottom of the. magazine. The clieek'iplate is cutaway inzfro'nt .of the pusher, to provide a recesshaving an inclined inner wall 39, and'acover plate 40iis' arranged over the. recess. The 'esjected Washers fall upon this inclined wall,and move down intoa vertical slot 42 i-n1the cheek plate.

This slo't communicates-with a cylindrical opening 48 extending transversely of the cheek plate,and having; the end thereof ad- 1 j'acen't the turret enlarged or conical in which is mounted to reclprocate a'sleeve 44.

The sleeve'has a slot/45,- which is adapted to register with the-slot 42, when the parts are u in a predetermined position with respect to 'eachother, to enable the passage iof a washer from the recjessinto the sleeve. The sleeve, is ailocaterfor the washer, thesleeve being designed to receive the washer, to supportit in l front -of the plunger. y I I g i I A plunger 46 is arranged within the-sleeve, and ahead 47 is provided inthe front end of "the plunger. This iheadl'has a tubular extension 48 fitting in an axial recess in the plunger 46, and an ejector 49 is arranged inthe head of theextension, the ejector having a head inits inner end, which bears against the inner end/of the tubular extension, to limit the outward movement-of' the:ejector, under the influence of a spring -50, which is seated be- :tween the ejector and :the bottom of the recess, and normally holds it in position shown. The parts are so proportionedthat the'forwardend of the ej ectoris normally flush with the forward face of thehead.

When the parts, are in the position of Figawasher 36 can pass into thelocater in front of the head. When the locater and the plunger arermovedthw'ard ace-11 on the tur- 4, it will i be seen that zthe forwar'd end of the 'locater is counterbo-red-or reamed as-shown at 5 1, to =receive-the-ell endandto center the same, When this occurs, the carb'on 32rof r2 jret, the locater'first engages theend of the 12s cell, 'and centers the cell. 'Refer'ringftof'Fig.

theca rbon from undue pressure.

WVhen the locater and plunger are withdrawn, the ejector under the influence of the spring prevents dragging of the; cell with the locater and plunger in'their movement of withdrawal." A counter pressure plate'indicated generally at 41is provided'in connection with the turret 9-, of precisely'the same construction and'mounted in the same manner as the counter plate 25. a

. As the plunger 46- and the head '47 move forwardly, the washer is carriedtherewith, audit is fitted into the end of the cell, and over the cap 10 of the carbon. After the plungerand sleeve have been withdrawmthe turret deliversthe capped and washered cell to the runway, by means of which it is discharged from the machine. The turrets are rotated from the shaft 3, by means of countershafts 52, extending forwardly from the shaft 3, and connected thereto bvthe worm and gear connection indicated at 53. Each shaft is journaled at its forward end in the cheek plate 5 or 6 as the case may be. and a disk 54 is secured to each shaft adjacent to the cheek plate.

Each of the disks has a crank pin 55, which is adapted once during each complete rotation of the shaft 52, to engage a spur gear 56 on the shaft 7 or 8, as the case may be, of the adjacent turret. Thus, for each complete rotation of a shaft 52, the turret is movedone step, that is, a quarter turn, the

relative arrangement of the elements 54 and 56 being such as to bring about this movement. v

The plungers 20 and 21 are reciprocate-d from the shaft 3. Cams 58 and 59 are mounted on the shaft, and each cooperates with a follower 60 and 61 respectively, connected to;

the respective plungers 20 and 21, by links 62 and 63. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the link 62 is yieldingly connected with the follow-er 60. The link passes through an opening in the follower, and is engaged by nuts 64 and 65 on opposite sides of the follower. A spring 66 encircles the ring between the follower and the nuts 65,

which may be adjusted to tension the spring.

When the follower moves forwardly, that is to the left of Fi .1, the plunger 20 after engaging the cell and pressing it against the abutment 25, may yield to prevent injury to the cell. Similar mechanism is provided for reciprocating the sleeve 44 and the plunger 46. This mechanism includes cams 67 and 68 on the shaft 3, followers 69 and 70, and links 71 and 72 connecting the respective followers with the sleeveand the plunger respectively. The sleeve mayyield, a spring 74 being arranged between the ring and the operate alternately'or separately. i

surein' opposition to;said mechanism.

-;i8.;-In a- 'm'achine .of the class described, ,mechanism to cap a cell, mechanism. to apply follower, in the same manner as the spring 66 is arranged, and the ring 72is adjustably connected with both plunger and follower.

The pusher 38 is operated by the follower 70, being connected thereto by meansof a link 7 5 pivoted at one end to the pusher, as shown at 76, and at the other end to the fol lower. The link 63 connecting the plunger 21 with the-follower is adjustable with'respect to" the plungeraasleeve nut 63 being provided,into which-the adjacent ends of the link and the plunger'arethreaded. The link 68 also has threaded engagement with the follower; J i I y The cams 58 and 59 are synchronized to operatethe' plungers 20 and 21 in sequence, the plunger 20 firstadvancing and being at once followed'by the plunger 21. a The movementsa-of the sleeve or locater '44 and the plunger 46 are similarlysynchronized'. 1 Any suitable source of power may be provided fordriving the shaft 3; While the parts.- are arranged as shownito simultaneously place a cap on one cell and a washer on another, it is apparentthatthey might be arranged to :It will be apparent from the. description that the washer magazine is a tube. The element 45 is a-washer chute," and the slide 38 advances'thewasher-from the chute so that it drops into;verticalipos-ition in the chute. The=l0cater is ameans foralining a cell and for receiving the washer, "and the plunger is a means for applying the washer to a cell afterithasrbeenalined1 1 W What is Iclaimed'as new is 5 1. In amachine of the class described, in

termittentlyrotatable means for advancing a cell, means operated during the rest period of said advancing means forcapping the cell,

and means for afterwards applying a washer totheflcelL-F i I 2. In a -machine of the' class described,

mechanism-t0 cap a cell, mechanism to apply a washer to a cell, intermittentlyoperating means 5 in connection x withf. each mechanism foradvancing a cell to position to be operated upon, and means for. -making counterpresa. washer toy-a .cell,interm ittently operating means in: connect on WllDll each ,mechanism for; advancing: a'cell to. position to be ,operatedaupon-,j' said' advancing means having openseats for the cells, and yielding means ,forholding eachIcell 'in its 's'eatiwhen-in; op-

eratingvpositionwithrelation to saidimechae I 11lSmS.-':":= 'i 4.-'-In-a mac hine of the class described,in'- 'termittently rotatablemeans' for advancing a :cell, means operated; during the rest .pe-

riod-flofwsaid advancing means .for capping the cell, and means forafterwards applying a washerzto'the cell, the capping mechanism including means receiving? the cap and advancing and placing 'the cap.

holding it in capping sposition saidmeans in eluding ,1 also mechanism. to engage" the can benefit-he;cell toioenter the same with relationto=tl1e cap, and other means novable with relation 'to said firstjnam'ed means; 01

'55. In amaejhineo-f the class desciibed iinfl termittently rotatable ineansfor advancing a cell, means operated duringthe rest period ofsaid advanclng means for capping the, cell,

{and means for afterwardsapplying;a washer to'ihe cell,- the: Washer a]; plyizng mechanism inclnding a substantially tubular member for ieceiying "the washer" and for holding said Washer-diametrically thereof; saidmeans includingalso means to; engage andcenter the cell flwitharelation to thehelcl washe1, and other; means movable with .rela-tion'rto said firstrna'medi means to insert the washer in the eap posifiioning means, Washer positioning memis, means for advancingapairof cells respeclzivelyineo cap, applying andgwasheri inserting positions, means vfer capping one ofthe' charaetei desoi'ihed; i a

I 1mm:

to receive cells to be. capped and to snlvanee saicleell-s-j-i-ntoeap applyin sposit ipmaninelinedi washer chute ya was enslide for ads;

vaneing a Washerinto said ehute Whexeby saidwasher is turned at'righ-t; angles, an op'en outer sleeve ion applying thewasherf j a I L 11. I;n,,a"- machine}: of the; character de-w top outer sleeve fog r'eeeivi-ng saidlwashe-r; 'an f r al gn g a ce h wasb repp yme position and an inner sleeve slidablejin said scribed-,9; e e-l1 chute, rotatable; meansadjacent said chute for receiving a eell from said chuteand advancing said eel-leto .e-apping and; Washer applying esitions and a evtrv'ed p g dapt Q engage ween ia d eansfor preventing displaeementgo f saidjce'll.

.-- gn d- N w r ei yj th c un ye 1 New York and St day of Marsh; A.- D.; 1928.

of saidrcells, andimeans arranged in juxtaposition to said caping means for ins er a washerin theother of said-cells;

I 7.; In amaehin'e of, theqoharacter 'deseri bed, v

a supporting st rnctlire; cap applying mean's' slidably mounted in saidstnuctuiefbr applying-a cap -to one: ,-ce1l,. and washer inserting means slidabl ymonnted in said structure ad jaeent to said cap applyingmeanslforiins,

serting a was'henmtoanothez eell; p .8; In amaehine ofizhev character described", vmeans-for inserting. a washer into a cell com- I v I prisingea:hollow' locater. having" an opening at ioneiendthereof fonreeeiving a- Washerlin' vertical position; and, for: aligning. a cell by V r the engagementof the enlargedportionvof i said opening with: the outer surface of said .-.9'. ;In amachine of theicharacter descri'bfi', i

tiers, whereby theqmove n'en't of the-cap" is controlled during-fits entryf nt-o said locatefi there being a PE SS Qinsaid locatev for Ineansfor-feedingaieap intoeapapplying "position includinga chute andian: open tap 6e11,; vand a plil'nger slidable iI-r said loeater 011 advancing said washer relatively f-to the beater-while iti-isi in engagement with said locatesinto 'which the: end 'of saidchute-en mitting 'a'ea p to; drop 'the'rethrough g a movthe'wasfher -appl ying position) I g g; 1O, Ini'-a machine-of gthe charaeterfdescribed, cap "feeding: ineansycap' applying v "meansladapted 'toneceive a cap from feeding imeansi and 11o eoptrel i the movementqof said te of New York, this 8th 7 L R D P pm a s i f" 1 '30 i 

